Holder for paint cans and the like



A ril 28, 1959 E. w. JOECKS" 2,884,216 I HOLDER FOR PAINT CANS AND THE. LIKE Filed May 25, 1956 EDMUND W. JOECKS United States Patent HOLDER FOR PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Edmund W. Joecks, Madison, Conn.

Application May 25, 1956, Serial No. 587,350

Claims. (Cl. 248-211) This invention is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 325,332 filed December 11, 1952, now abandoned.

The present invention in its broad aspect relates to a holder for paint cans and the like by means of which the contents of the container are made readily accessible to the user when working olf the ground as, for instance, on a ladder.

More specifically, the invention relates to, and has for an object, the provision of a paint can holder of simple, inexpensive and practical construction which comprises an attachment carried by the can.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character and for the purpose described which is formed from a single length of wire having a hook at one end for engaging over the rung of a ladder, and means at its other end for releasably engaging the rim of a standard type of paint can in a manner to both support the can and prevent its accidental disengagement from the holder.

Another object is in providing a device constituting a combination paint can attachment and holder for the can, to make further provision whereby the normal position of the holder relative to the can, when disengaged from a ladder, will be such that moving the holder from one rung to another will be a one hand operation, that being the hand carrying the paint.

Still a further object of my invention is in some instances to employ an adapter which permits use of the holder with various types of cans.

These and other objects of my invention will either be explained or will become apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a can holder comprising a length of wire formed into a shank having a rung engaging hook at one end thereof. A lateral extension projects from the other end of the shank and terminates in an incomplete return or open loop. The open end of the return loop terminates in an upstanding prong or finger.

The shank and the extension are coplanar within a first plane, while the extension and the loop are coplanar in a second plane which intersects the first plane at an obtuse angle. The prong or finger intersects the second plane at a predetermined angle, as for example at an obtuse angle.

In order to utilize this holder, as for example in vertically supporting an open paint canfrom a ladder rung, the holder is moved into contact with the rim of the can. This rim, as is conventional, has an annular channel or well therein which extends downward from the top of the rim and is spaced apart from the side wall of the can. As a result an annular recess is formed between the channel and the side wall of the can. The lateral extension portion of the holder is placed substantially flush with the top of the rim in such manner that the incomplete return loop extends downward into the interior of the can, and

the upstanding prong or finger is brought into locking engagement with the recess.

Finally, the hook can be placed onto a ladder rung in well known manner. At this point, the holder securely supports the can from the ladder rung.

As an added safety precaution, I provide auxiliary locking means which comprises an adapter plate, as for example a disc having a hole or opening positioned oif center or eccentrically. The lateral extension of the holder passes through the orifice of the disc. The disc is eccentrically rotatable about the lateral extension and at the same time can be moved or slid along the extension itself.

In one method of utilizing this locking means, the disc is rotated and at the same time is slid or moved along the extension until a peripheral portion of the disc fits loosely within the top of the annular channel of the rim. The holder is then rotated and the disc is also rotated eccentrically until a portion of the disc periphery engages, with a friction tight fit, the bottom of the channel. At this point, the holder is locked to the can and can only be disengaged by rotating the disc in the reverse direction to that indicated above.

Certain types of cans have a substantially flat rim having an internal edge. The adapter plate in this case is positioned in contact with the exterior surface of the side wall and locks the holder to the can with a friction tight fit.

My invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the can holder;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the can holder;

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the can holder supports an open can; and

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate two methods by which the can holder together with auxiliary locking means supports an open can.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a can holder identified generally at 10 and comprising a length of wire 12 formed into a shank 14 having a rung engaging hook 16 at one end thereof. A lateral extension 18 extends from the other end of the shank and terminates in an incomplete return loop 20. The loop 20 is terminated in an upstanding prong or finger 22. i

The shank 12 and extension 18 are at substantially right angles to each other and fall within a first common plane (plane A). The extension 18 and the loop 20 are at substantially right angles to each other and fall Within a second common plane (plane B). All portions of the loop other than the prong 22 fall within plane B, and the prong intersects plane B at a predetermined angle, in this example an obtuse angle C.

A paint can 24 of conventional type is provided with a rim 26. The top of the rim is provided with an annular channel or well 28 which extends downward from the top of the rim and is spaced apart from the side wall 30 of the can 24. The space between the channel 28 and the side wall 30 defines an annular recess 32.

When the can is supported 'by the holder and the hook 16 of the holder engages a ladder run-g in well known manner, the lateral extension 18 extends over and is substantially in flush contact with the top of the rim, the loop 20 extending downward into the interior of the can, and the prong 22 engages the recess 32. The weight of the can pulls against the holder and moves the prong into locking engagement with the recess, thus permitting the holder to firmly support the can in the manner indicated.

When the auxiliary locking means described previously are used, as shown in Fig. 4, I further provide an adapter plate, in this example a generally circular disc 34 provided with an off center or eccentric hole 36 through which the lateral extension 18 extends. The disc can be moved or slid along the extension and can also be rotated about the extension. With the holder slightly tilted, so that the prong 22 very loosely engages the slot 32, the disc is slid along the extension until the periphery 37 of the disc extends downward into the channel 28.

With the holder still tilted, the disc is-then rotated. Because of the eccentric positioning of hole 36, as the disc is rotated, the periphery of the disc is gradually forced into a friction tight engagement with the bottom of the channel 28.

At this point, the holder is turned to its normal supporting position, and the holder, disc and can are locked together into a rigid structure. By tilting the holder and rotating the disc in a direction opposite to that indicated above until the disc rotates freely in the channel, the entire arrangement can be disassembled, and the holder and disc can be disengaged from the can.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a can having a generally flat rim 50 joined to a side wall 30 and provided with an inturned edge 52. The disc 34 is moved into friction tight contact with the rim 50 of the can and locks the holder in place. In this application, the position of the hole in the disc is immaterial; for example, a center hole can be used in place of the off center hole described previously.

While I have shown and pointed out my invention as applied above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made Within the scope and sphere of my invention as defined in the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A can holder comprising a length of wire formed into a vertical shank having a rung engaging hook at one end thereof, a horizontal extension extending from the other end of said shank and terminating in a downwardly extending J-shaped loop which is substantially perpendicular to said extension, said loop terminating in a prong projecting upwardly and laterally from said loop, the included angle between said prong and said loop being an obtuse angle.

2. A holder for vertically supporting an open can from a ladder rung, said can having a rim, the bottom of said rim being provided with a recess, said holder comprising a length of wire formed into a vertical shank having a rung engaging hook at one end thereof, a horizontal extension extending from the other end of said shank and terminating in a downwardly extending J-shaped loop which is substantially perpendicular to said extension, said loop terminating in a prong projecting upwardly and laterally from said loop, the included angle between said prong and said loop being an obtuse angle, whereby when said holder supports said can, said loop and said prong engage said rim in a position in which said prong is in locking engagement with said recess.

3. A holder as set forth in claim 2 further including a generally circular disc having an aperture receiving said horizontal extension, a peripheral portion of said disc engaging said rim when said prong is in locking engage ment with said recess. I

4. A holder for vertically supporting an open can from a ladder rung, said can having a rim which joins a side wall of said can, said holder comprising a length of wire formed into a vertical shank having a rung engaging hook at one end thereof, a horizontal extension extending from the other end of said shank and terminating in a downwardly extending J-shaped loop which is substantially perpendicular to said extension, said loop terminating in a prong projecting upwardly and laterally from said loop, the included angle between said prong and said loop being an obtuse angle, and a generally circular disc having an aperture receiving said horizontal extension whereby when said holder supports said can, said prong engages the underside of said rim and a fiat surface of said disc contactsthe region wherein said rim joins the side wall of said can with a friction-tight fit.

5. A holder for vertically supporting an open can from a ladder rung, said can having a rim which joins a side wall of said can, said holder comprising a length of wire formed into a vertical shank portion having a return bend at one end to form a rung engaging book, a horizontal extension on the other end of said shank portion, said extension terminating in a downwardly extending J-shaped loop which is substantially perpendicular to said extension, said loop terminating in a prong projecting upwardly and laterally from said loop, the included angle between said prong and said loop being an obtuse angle, and a disc rotatably mounted on said extension and axially movable therealong, whereby, when said holder supports said .can and said prong engages the underside of said rim and a face of said disc contacts said rim, any slight tilt of said disc with respect to said extension causes said disc to grip said extension in clutching engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,390 Weigand Feb. 13, 1951 2,542,737 Vogel Feb. 20, 1951 2,636,706 Hudoba Apr. 28, 1953 

